Where Will Carlos Beltran Be Traded To?

Where will Carlos Beltran be traded to? That is the question many people have been asking since the All Star break. Carlos is most likely the most coveted trade chip on the market and many teams are looking to add him for a playoff push and possible World Series championship. Carlos is weary of going to the AL because he doesn't want to be made a DH, he has made it clear he wants to play right field. Several teams, like the Phillies,Braves,Giants,Redsox,Rangers to name a few are aggressively trying to pry Beltran away from the Mets. Sandy Alderson, GM of the Mets has made it known that he wants one top level prospect in return for Beltran and the Giants don't want to give up high A pitcher Zach Wheeler, the Phillies don't want to give up outfielder Dominick Brown who is currently on the big league roster and the Braves are awry to give up one of there many prized pitching prospects. Carlos wants to stay in the NL so he can play the field and because he knows the pitchers and parks well and doesn't have to make too many adjustments. Carlos Beltran is batting .291 on the season with 15 HR's and 64 RBI's in 96 games. He also shows a .391 OBP and .519 SLG% which equates into a .910 OPS. He's having a great season considering everyone thought he would need 1-2 games off a week before the season started to give his bad knees a rest but his knees are holding up and allowing him to be a everyday player. He has a clause in his contract that blocks a team from offering him arbitration in the off season, so a team that trades for him can't get draft pick compensation. He also has a full no trade clause, so he can decide what teams he'll block a trade to and what teams he'll accept a trade to. Lets now take a look at the possible landing spots for Carlos Beltran as the trade deadline draws closer and a possible trade hovers over Carlos Beltran.


Philadelphia Phillies: They could use an offensive piece and Carlos Beltran would be a huge addition to the lineup and would give them a starting outfield of Beltran,Victorino,Ibanez and they can send down Dom Brown to AAA or keep his bat on the bench. Philadelphia holds the best record in the MLB and Beltran does have postseason experience, so he could be a very key addition to the Phillies in there quest for another World Series title.


Atlanta Braves: They could really use an outfield bat and since Jason Heyward is in RF, maybe Beltran gets shifted back to CF or Heyward moves for Beltran. Their farm system is deep and they got great pitching prospects but aren't budging to give one up the best ones. They seem willing to give up Mike Minor, who the Mets recently scouted. Beltran would be a perfect addition to the Braves if they can get him and would be good leader heading into the playoffs.


San Francisco Giants: They desperately need offense since there young star catcher Buster Posey went down with a broken leg. Pablo Sandoval and Nate Schierholtz have been carrying the load on the offense. What's really got them soaring in first place is there pitching, both there rotation and bullpen. If they can add Beltran's bat to the offense, they might have a really good chance to repeat as World Series champions.


Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers are going all in this year trying to win a World Series in what could be the final season in a Brewers uniform for young slugging first basemen Prince Fielder. They made trades for pitchers Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum in the winter and added closer Frankie Rodriguez from the Mets during the all star break. There farm system is very thin so no one knows what they could offer that could woo Sandy Alderson in sending Beltran to Milwaukee. If Beltran goes to Milwaukee, he gets to play in RF and Corey Hart will be moved to CF. It'd also give them one of the top offenses in the game.


Pittsburgh Pirates: The team that is shocking the nation with there surprisingly great play so far are in a three way tie for first place in the NL Central with the Brewers and Cardinals. There young pitching is really carrying them as there offense could definitely use some veteran leadership and a middle of the order bat. Beltran would fit perfectly in Pittsburgh but although they are playing well, Beltran may not think they're serious contenders. Putting Beltran in the lineup with Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker would be a great addition for a franchise who hasn't seen the playoffs since 1992.


Boston Redsox: The Redsox have arguably the best offense in the MLB but that's not stopping them from thinking of trading for Beltran's bat. If you add Beltran to a lineup that already consists of Adrian Gonzalez,Dustin Pedroia,Kevin Youkilis,Carl Crawford,Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz , opposing pitchers will have nightmares the night before they start against Boston. The thing is, is Redsox young prospect is already playing RF and is doing a fantastic job and making the Redsox think otherwise about adding Beltran when there farm system took a hit after the A-Gon deal in the winter. They have bigger issues with there rotation and bullpen, so i don't think Boston will get Beltran.


Detroit Tigers: The Tigers offense is being carried by Miguel Cabrera (what else is new), Johnny Peralta,Alex Avila and Brennan Boesch. Adding Beltran will solidify the lineup and make it one of the for real threats in the AL and could get them over the hump and back into the World Series for the first time since 2006 when they were swept by the St.Louis Cardinals. To go with the rotation that features Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander and young guns Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello, the Tigers could be a real threat in the playoffs if they can make it.


Cleveland Indians: Another surprise in the MLB this year, the Indians are two games back in the AL Central of the Tigers and could really use a outfield bat. This is where Carlos Beltran comes into the picture, with Grady Sizemore and Shin Soo-Choo on the DL, the Indians could use Beltran's middle of the order production to get them back in first place. There starting pitching has been a nice surprise and the offense isn't too bad but could definitely use Beltran's help to get them back in the playoffs.


Texas Rangers: This is a little puzzling since they already got Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz in the outfield and in the corner outfield spots. I'm not sure Beltran wants to move back to CF and the Rangers already got Endy Chavez,Chris Gentry and David Murphy all in the crowded outfield picture. Texas also already has a top notch offense led by Cruz and Hamilton so i don't know why they need to add more offense especially a Beltran type contributor. What they really need is pitching, a bullpen piece and a starter who can get them over the hump and get them away from the Angels in the AL West. Texas does have a deep farm system so they could maybe make two big additions like a Heath Bell/Mike Adams/Ubaldo Jimenez/Hiroki Kuroda/Carlos Beltran/Hunter Pence/B.J Upton/Anibal Sanchez/Leo Nunez/Michael Bourn.